Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Euripides (Ancient Greek Dramatist)

Euripides (480–406 BCE) was an Athenian tragic playwright who wrote 92 plays, 18 of which have survived. This corpus is the largest number of surviving plays among the great Athenian playwrights, including Aeschylus and Sophocles. Euripides’s tragedies like Medea, The Bacchae, and Alcestis were immensely influential on generations of playwrights and remain popular to this day.

Euripides was born probably near Athens. Not much is known about his early life except that when he was twenty, he started submitting his tragedies to theater contests. Euripides was an iconoclast in his life and his literary work. He is the archetype for the estranged artist. He played no role in public life and wrote in isolation in a 10-chambered cave, which was rediscovered by archaeologists in 1997. Aside from his writings, his chief interests were philosophy and science.

Euripides was also innovative in the way he expanded the range of drama. His plays depict subjects and perspectives never represented before on stage. For instance, The Troades shows war for its casualties, Trojan Women, not its warriors. In his best-known tragedy, Medea (431 BCE,) a princess murders her sons to even the score on the husband who left her to marry another princess.

At a time when other playwrights focused on more powerful, triumphant characters, Euripides exposed the gods as small-minded and indifferent. He portrayed mythical heroes like regular people—with their human struggles and emotional conflicts. He also represented the downtrodden in society, particularly women and slaves. His discourses were less structured and resembled normal speech.

Euripides was exiled to Macedonia for some unknown reason. His vast popularity came only after his death, when, since the fourth century, his plays outshone those of the other great Athenian playwrights. In more recent times he has influenced English and German drama, and most conspicuously such French dramatists as Pierre Corneille and Jean-Baptiste Racine.

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by Euripides

Where there is no wine there is no love.
Euripides
Topics: One liners, Wine

The man who glories in his luck may be overthrown by destiny.
Euripides
Topics: Fortune, Luck

Every man is like the company he is wont to keep.
Euripides
Topics: Friendship

Unblessed is the son who does not honor his parents; but if reverent and obedient to them, he will receive the same from his own children.
Euripides
Topics: Parents

When fortune smiles, what need of friends?
Euripides
Topics: Fortune

Along with success comes a reputation for wisdom.
Euripides
Topics: Success, Reputation

In goodness there are all kinds of wisdom.
Euripides
Topics: Goodness

No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.
Euripides
Topics: Tomorrow, Time Management, Death, Value of a Day

Of all the evils that infest a state, a tyrant is the greatest; his sole will commands the laws, and lords it over them.
Euripides
Topics: Tyranny

This is courage in a man: to bear unflinchingly what heaven sends.
Euripides
Topics: Perseverance, Courage, Difficulty, Endurance, Resolve

How base a thing it is when a man will struggle with necessity! We have to die.
Euripides
Topics: Necessity, Acceptance

Ignorance of one’s misfortunes is clear gain.
Euripides
Topics: Ignorance

Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account.
Euripides
Topics: Events, Attitude

I would prefer as a friend a good man who is ignorant than one more clever who is evil, too.
Euripides
Topics: Friendship, Ignorance, Cleverness

If we could be twice young and twice old we could correct all our mistakes.
Euripides
Topics: Birthdays, Aging

What can we take on trust
in this uncertain life? Happiness, greatness,
pride – nothing is secure, nothing keeps.
Euripides
Topics: Security, Change, Safety

All is change; all yields its place and goes.
Euripides
Topics: Change

What we look for does not come to pass;
God finds a way for what none foresaw.
Euripides
Topics: Foresight

The best prophet is common sense, our native wit.
Euripides
Topics: Common Sense

Among mortals second thoughts are wisest.
Euripides
Topics: Wisdom

Forgive, son; men are men; they needs must err.
Euripides
Topics: Forgiveness

The wavering mind is but a base possession.
Euripides
Topics: Indecision, The Mind, Mind

The conflict of patience is such, that the vanquished is better than the vanquisher.
Euripides
Topics: Patience

Life has no blessing like a prudent friend.
Euripides
Topics: Friends, Friendship

Love must not touch the marrow of the soul. Our affections must be breakable chains that we can cast them off or tighten them.
Euripides
Topics: Romance

New faces have more authority than accustomed ones.
Euripides
Topics: Authority, One liners

That man is happiest who lives from day to day and asks no more, garnering the simple goodness of life.
Euripides
Topics: Happiness, Time Management, Value of Time

Had I succeeded well, I had been reckoned among the wise; our minds are so disposed to judge from the event.
Euripides
Topics: Success

Friends show their love in times of trouble…
Euripides
Topics: Friends and Friendship, Trouble

Time will unveil all things to posterity; it is a chatterer and speaks to those who do not question it.
Euripides
Topics: Posterity

Wondering Whom to Read Next?

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *